Rotary file and braking means therefor



March i4, 195@ R. P. SCHOLFIELD ROTARY FILE AND BRAKING MEANS THEREFOR 4sheets-shea 1 Filed Nov. 2l, 1947 IN VEN TOR.

March 14, 1950 Filed Nov. 21, 1947 R. P. SCHOLFIELD ROTARY FILE ANDBRAKING MEANS THEREFOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

March M, 195@ R. P. SCHOLFIELD ROTARY FILE AND BRAKING MEANS THEREF'OR 4Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 2l, 1947 March M, 1950 R. P. sci-AOLFAELD A25999799 ROTARY FILE AND BRAKING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Nov. 21, 1947 4sheets-sheet 4 I ma we '59 /06 los l INVENTo-R. Rz'chardRScllolieldcards on the drum. v

Patented Mar. 14, 1950 UNI TED?" STATES PTENT OFFICE- Richard P.scholeld, White Plainsm. YQ Application November 21, 1947, serial Nb'.787,409" s claims. (c1. 19a-sr` `The 'present invention, relates lto`rotary files and, more particularly', to files of the type comprisingfiling drums `rr'iounted ior'rotation about their axes and'l havingmeansassociated with their periph'erie's" for removably securing thereto aplurality ofl'ingcards. l

Filingequi'pment ofi this/type is Aused. for keep-- ing recordsfofa'widefvarety of'types, and it is often desired topo'st entriesuppn thecards Whilel the same are mountedupo'n thev drum periphery, while inothercases tlhjewc'arcls are removed, entries are typedthereon,`vand'thecards replaced. In either case, and duringthe operationof manually inspecting the cards,l to Ilocate a particular one or thelike, it is, or the utmost importance that the rotatable drum'berestrained against rotation anduheldiirrnlyin/one position, to resistthe turning, forces imparted thereto bythe operator and `by 'theunbalanced Weight of the In ,the prior patent to; Scholi'ield yet al.,No. 2,046,655,7aone-way brake, between the rotat-` able drum andanon-rotatable supporting shaft is showin., to prevent rotation ofl thedrum in a rearward direction, andgthe construction there providedhasjbeen of substantial" utility and con stitutes an improvement overprior rotary illes. However, the construction of'that patent includes nomeans forz preventingfrotaton ofthe drum in a forward ,directiongfor'instance, upon'the application of turning forces thereto, as a 'resultof the posting of entries by the operator upon cards secured to theforward, downwardly turning surfaceof the drum periphery.

,The primaryobject ofthe present invention is to provide, in combinationwitha rotary file, a. brake imechanisrnwhichwill prevent rotation of thedrum in 'both directions; 'upon theapplication of turningy forces to thedrum 'in either di,- rection,yet which will be instantlyfreleased, 'topermit rotation of the drum in 'either direction upon the application ofturning forces toa handie mechanism associatedwith the drum.

. A furtherobject of the invention isto provide, in combination with 'arotaryfile,"an"improved, automatic brakemechanism and handle mechanismfor releasingthe brake'and turning the drum.

Anotherobjefct ofthe-invention isto provide"automatically*operating'-twoeway brakes ifor rotary -les which willresist'relativelygreat turning forces-applied `Ato the card carryingdrums"4 in through-the insriemaiay of associated handle me'clian'i'sms.n l ,l i, Another Objectis to,` provide specic' improvements in such`brake mechanisms;

Other and further objects' land 4vadvantages dfv the invention willrvbe, ,apparent yfrom a consideri@k ation of theffollowing description ofcertain pre-fk erred embodiments ofI ,the invention shown in the,accompanying' drawingain which,

`Figure 1 is 'av plan ,view landpartial se'zction of a idling drumv andits supporting elements;

tFigure 2 a V`frag.,mentarysection,'and elevationon lan,enlarged,scalelooking from' theleft of Figure 1, substantially on'the line 2-2`ofFiguol urel; T y Figure isasectiof Lo n',lii"ife `ii-ivirof Figure 2;Figures 4, 5, and' v6 'are fragmentary sections on linesLl-IL 5 5, andS-S, respectively, of'Fig- AkFigure 7 isfan enlargedfragr'nentarysection online'iT'iofFigure;

Figure 8` is, ,ai,i,e,nlarged fragmentary section online-BofFigureGg VFigure 9 isa view similar toligure 2 of a mod` iiied formo brakemechanism;

Figures .10 and 1,1 are sections on lines liii-II) and |I'l i,respectively, of'Figure 9; l x vliigures 1,2 and 1,3 aresectionalviewstakenjon lines l2-I2 and 134-13, respectively, of Figure 10;, Figurevlll'is` an', enlarged section and elevation, on line 14e-I4 of Figure13, and

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic, side elevation, on a reduced scale, of apreferred form of handlemechanism. i y a The iling drum I6 vpreferablycomprises a rim member Il having a plurality of outwardly pro-V jecting,circuinferentially extending. headed card retainingrails, l2, i3,associated therewith, uponwhich a plurality'of.. carols I4 may beremovably retained, for instance, by means of vkey-A hole shaped slotsi5, as is Well understood in. the art. The rim, is preferably` mountedupon shoulders associated with dished heads IB, one of whichisshown inig'urel, terminating `in out- Wardly projecting vflanges |1,'i8,arranged to lie alongthe lateral edges of the cards l5.

The drum heads' may be journalled by suitv able bearings 2E) uponanon-rotatable shaftZl,

having itsends 22,. 23,',supported in suitable sock# et members"'24, 25,the'shaft ends and sockets v -beingrprovided with cooperatinglatsurfaces to prevent rotation' of theshaft.r

The brake "meclianism represented generally at 28, lis housedwithin acasingf'29"havingra outer face, defined by concentric inner and outerwalls 39 and 40, constituting brake surfaces. Slidably mounted in thechannel 38 for relatively free movement with respect thereto is ashoe43, xedly attached to the housing 29 by screws 44.

l The shoe 43 is provided with terminal extensions l 45, 46, havingouter surfaces shaped to provide seats for rollers 41, 48, the bottomsof the seats being inclined radially outwardly away from the ends of theextremities so that they are deeper at the outer ends 49 and 50 andshallower at the inner ends 5|, 52.

Also slidably mounted in the channel 38 of brake member 31 are twooppositely disposed shiftable brake shoes 53, 54, having their sidewalls in free sliding engagement with the walls of the channel andycarrying at their adjacent ends, pins 55 and '55, serving as retainingmeans for a coil compression spring 51, urging the shiftable shoestowards the shoe 43 fixedly attached to the housing 29.

The shiftable shoes are provided with terminal portions or fingers 59,60, having'surfaces shaped to provide seats cooperating with the rollers41 and 48, the seats being deeper at the free ends 6|, 82, and inclinedtoward the shallower ends Adjacent their opposite ends, the shiftableshoes are provided with circumferentially elongated slots 85, 68, whichreceive pins 81, 88, carried by an outer plate 10 having a shoulderedcentral aperture 1|. A hub member 12 secured by screws 13 to the innerplate 33, is provided with a flange 14, mating with the shoulder of theplate 10 and preventing axial movement of the latter end of theintermediate parts relative to plate 33.

Surrounding the shaft 23 is a handle 15, which may have three or morearms 16, 11, 18, the centrial portion of which is attached to the outerplate 10 by suitable means, such as screws 80 (Figure 2).

It is thought that the operation of the first form of the invention,just described, will be `clear from a consideration of the relationship`of parts shown in the accompanying drawings. `The inner plate 33, brakesurface channel member 31 and hub 12 are all fixed to the non-rotatableshaft 23 and are therefore non-rotatable. whereas the housing 29, brakeshoes 43. 53, and 54, outer plate 10 and handle 15, together with thefiling drum I0 are `rotatable with respect to the shaft. With the partsin the position of rest. however, as shown in Figure 5, the brakemechanism is effective to prevent rotation of the drum under theinfluence of turning forces imparted thereto in either direction. Forinstance.

if rotational force is imparted to the drum and.

therefore, to the housing 29 and shoe 43 in a clockwise direction. theshallow end 52 of the seat for roller 48 will engage the roller and willtend to roll the same up upon the shallow end 64 of the shiftable brakeshoe 54, thereby forcing the latter shoe outwardly against the outerwall of the channel 38, causing the parts to jam.

During this attempted movement, of course, the other brake shoe 53 isineffective, since the roller 41 is at the deep end of the two seats.

If rotational force is imparted to the drum in a counterclockwisedirection, exactly the opposite effect is produced and roller 41, ridingup onto the shallow ends 5| and 63 of the two seats forces the shiftableshoe 53 outwardly into engagement with the outer wall 40 of the channel,preventing rotation of the drum in a counterclockwise direction, theother brake shoe 54 being ineffective at this time.

Thus, the drum is normally locked against rotation in both directions,under the influence of turning forces applied to the drum.

If, however, the handle mechanism 15 is shift ed in a clockwisedirection, Figures 2, 4, and 5, pin 68 disposed in slot 66 pulls theshiftable shoe 454 downwardly so that the roller 48 lies in the deepends 50 and 62 of its seats. Turning forces are transmitted through theroller 48 to the shoe 43 and from the latter through screws 44 to thehousing 29, thereby to turn the drum in a corresponding direction, thebrake shoe 53 being ineffective to restrain rotation in this direction.

Similarly, when turning forces are imparted to the handle in acounterclockwise direction, the pin 81 in the slot `|55 of shiftableshoe 53 draws the latter downwardly, causing the roller 41 to lie in thedeep ends 49 and 6| of its seats and transmitting turning forces throughthe roller to the terminal portion 45 of shoe 43 and from the latter tothe filing drum.

Of course, when the handle is released the brake is instantly andautomatically applied to restrain rotation in eitiher direction.

Another form of brake mechanism, shown in Figures 9-14, may be mountedwithin the same housing 29, secured by screws 3| to the drum head I6. Inthis case, an inner plate 85 is similarly keyed to the flat portion'35of shaft 23, the plate being provided with an axially outwardlyprojecting flange 88 having a radially inner circumferentiallycontinuous wall 81 constituting a fixed brake surface. Within thecentral recess defined by the flange 86, there are arranged a pluralityof brake elements, including a centrally iapertured shoe 89 rotatablysurrounding the shaft 23 and having a plurality of centrally bored andtapped studs 90 projecting outwardly therefrom. The shoe 89 also carriesthree pins 9| serving as retaining devices for a spring, hereinafterdescribed.

Laterally of the central shoe 89 are a pair of segment shaped shoes 92,93, having their arcuate surfaces mating with the inner surface 81 ofthe ange 86. The outer surfaces of the shoes 92, 93, however, arerecessed as at 94, 95, and provided with substantially radiallydisposed, flat end surfaces 96, 91 and angularly disposed chordal bottomsurfaces 98. 99, providing recesses for rollers |00, I 0|, the rollersbeing constantly urged toward the end walls 9S, 91 by leaf springs |02,|03, seated in recesses 94 and 95.

Between the adjacent surfaces of the segmental shoes 92. 93 and thecentral member 89 are a pair of wedge members |05, |06, having studs|01, |08 projecting outwardly therefrom. A Wishbone tvpe spring |09having a'central section |04 threaded between the pins 9|, 4has its endsand ||2 embracing the studs |01, |08,- thereby constantly urging both ofthe wedge members |05 and |06 into operative position, toward the rightin Figure 13, this movement being limited by stop pins |05' and |06'projecting from the edge faces of the central shoe 89.

:moa-rca 'At the outer f ace of the shoes B9, 52, :and $3 there is anannular plate |I'5, having a c ,entlalr aperture surrounding the shaft23 and merging into laterally projecting slots H5, into which the studs|91 and |98 loosely project. The axial ly inner end of the outersur-face of plate H5 .is shaped to provide an undercut groove 'l |8, forthe reception of a split ring H9,y having its inner surface shaped tomate therewith, and adapted to be secured to the inner plate 85 byscrews |20.

The outer plate H5 has a plurality of en larged openings |23 whichloosely receive the studs 99, for limited circumferential lost motion. Aplurality of screws |24 extends through holes in the housing 29 and intothe tapped bores `of studs 99, to secure the various parts to thehousing.

The handle |21 is secured in outwardly spaced,

relation to the housing 29 and the plate ||5 by a plurality of headedscrews |229v extending through spacer sleeves |39, disposed in enlargedopenings |3| in the housing 29 and bearing against the outer surface ofthe plate H5, for relative cire cumferential lost motion of the handlewith rc spect to the housing.

In the operation of this form of the invention, turning forces impartedto the d-rum are .transmitted through housing 29 and screws |24 to thecentral shoe 99 of the brake mechanism and from the latter, throughthewedges |95, |05 to the arcuate shoes 92 and 93. Rotation in aclock-.- wise direction, Figure 13, would be permitted by roller |99 inthe slot 94, since, when the roller is in the deep end of the recesses,abutting the rear wall 9S, its circumference is `substantially out ofcontact with surface 3'! of the fixed flange 86. However, rotation inthis direction is restrained by the other roller, |01, which immediatelyjams between the circumferential surface 8,1 and the ohordal bottom 99of recess 95. Similarly, rotation as a result of forces imparted to thedrum ,in the opposite direction is restrained by roller |90, jammedbetween the surface 81 and the bottom 98 of yrecess 94,

Turning forces imparted to the handle mechanism are directly transmittedthrough screws |28 to the outer plate H5, rotation of the latterrelative to the housing 29 being permitted by the space between themargins of the enlarged openings |3| and the sleeves |39. Rotation ofthe plate ||5 in the clockwise directions causes engagement of themargin of slot with pin k|08 carried by wedge |06, thereby withdrawingthat wedge and permitting the shoe 93 to move radially inwardly. Spring|93 engaging roller ||l| limits the rolling movement of the latter alongthe bottom 99 of recess 95 and prevents the jamming of the roller. Withshoe 93 in the relieved or retracted position, turning forces areimparted to the studs 99 by the margins of the openings |23 in plate Il5, whereby the drum may be rotated in a clockwise direction, since thestuds are xedly attached to the housing 29 by screws |24.

Turning forces imparted to the handle in the opposite, counterclockwisedirection function in a. similar manner. Wedge |05 is withdrawn, torelieve the outward force on shoe 92, thereby preventing the rollerlllil from jamming between the surface 91 and the bottom 98 of recess94. Hence, the drum may be rotated quitev readily in a counterclockwisedirection by appropriate manipulation of the handle mechanism.

It will be understood that, upon release of the handle, the brake shoesare immediately and automatically shifted to their operative positions,

thereby preventing rotation of the drum under the influence of turningforces imparted thereto; The invention is not limited to the details of'construction shown in the accompanying draw.- ings and described above,but includes all medi.-

ications coming within the appended claims and their equivalents..

vI claim: f

'1. A rotary iile lcomprising a, non-rotatable supporting shaft, afiling drum journalled for ro tation thereon, a handle mounted forrotation coaxially ofthe shaft, a brake mechanism inter.- posed betweenthe drum and the shaft, and con-s neotions between the handle and thebrake mechanism, said mechanism comprising a cire oumferentiallycontinuous braking surface fixed to the shaft, a shoe fixed to the drumslidable along saidsuraCe, a pair of shiftable shoes cooperating withthe fixed shoe, means normally causing one shoe to jam against saidsurface upon attempted rotation of the drum in one di: rection, meansnormally causing the other shoe to jam against said surface uponattempted rotation of the drumin the other direction, where-.-

l by the drum is normally restrained against rota.-

tion in both directions, and a connection between.

said handle and the shiftable shoes to shift the latter away from saidsurface and preventing jamming thereof upon the application thereto ofturning forces in the rst mentioned directions, whereby the drum may berotated in either direction by the handle.

2. A rotary le comprising a non-rotatable supporting shaft, a filingdrum journalled for ro! tation thereon, a handle mounted for rotationcoaxially of the shaft, a brake mechanism interposed between the drumand the shaft, and con: nections between the handle and the brakemechanism, said mechanism comprising a circumferentially continuousbraking surface fixed to said shaft, a pair of shiftable shoes rotatablewith .the drum, a roller associated with each shoe adapted to jamagainst said surface when' turning forces are imparted to the drum andto the shoes in opposite directions, said rollers being free in theother directions, said connec tion between the handle and each shoeserving to shift the shoes to inoperative positions upon the applicationof turning forces thereto.

3. A rotary le comprising a non-rotatable supporting shaft, a filingdrum journalled for rotation thereon, a handle mounted for .rotationcoaxially of the shaft, a brake mechanism interposed between the drumand the shaft and connections between the handle and the brakemechanism, said mechanism comprising a brake drum fixed to the shafthaving an internal braking surface, a pair of jam type oppositely actingone-way brake shoes in the brake drum connected for rotation with theling drum, each shoe being shiftable inwardly to an inoperativeposition, a movable wedge behind each shoe, and spring means normallyurging the wedges to shift the shoes outwardly, said connections betweenthe handle and the brake mechanism comprising a lost motion connectionbetween the handle and each wedge, effective to shift the wedge and theassociated shoe to* the inoperative position upon the application ofturning force to the handle in thek direction normally restrained by theshoe, whereby the filing drum may be rotated by the handle in eitherdirection, but rotation of the drum is restrained in both directions bythe shoes, upon the application of turning forces to the ling drum.

4. A rotary le comprising a non-rotatable supporting shaft, a filingdrum journalled for rotation thereon, a, handle mounted for rotationcoaxially of the shaft, a brake mechanism interposed betweenthe drum andthe shaft and connections between the handle and the brake mechanism,said mechanism comprising a brake drum fixed to the shaft, having acircumferentially continuous internal braking surface, a pair of shoesrotatable with the filing drum disposed Within the brake drum, mountedfor radial shifting from an outer, operative position to an inner.inoperative position, a pair of wedges behind the shoes, spring meansnormally urging the Wedges in a direction to project the shoes in anouter position, and a roller interposed between each shoe and thebraking surface, one arranged to jam and prevent rotation of itsassociated shoe in one direction, and the other in the oppositedirection, whereby the filing drum is normally restrained againstrotation in both directions, said connections including a lost motionconnection between the handle and each of said Wedges, effective to moveeach wedge against the force of said spring means to shift theassociated shoe to the inoperative position when turning force isimparted to the `handle in the direction normally restrained by theassociated roller. v

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 4 characterized in that eachshoe has an arcuate peripheral surface mating with thebrake drum surfaceand interrupted by a recess having a bottom on a chord of the arc, andin that the rollers are disposed in said recesses.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 4 characterized in that each ofsaid brake shoes has an arcuate peripheral surface mating with thebraking surface and interrupted by a recess defined by a substantiallyradial end wall and a chordal bottom, and in that the rollers'aredisposed in the recesses so formed. Y

'7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 4 characterized in that eachof said brake shoes has an arcuate peripheral surface mating with thebraking surface and interrupted by a recess defined by a substantiallyradial end wall and a posed in the recesses with a spring associatedwith each roller normally urging the same toward the radially disposedend wall of its recess.

8. A rotary le comprising a non-rotatable supporting shaft, a ling drumjournalled for rotation thereon, a .handle mounted for rotationcoaXiaIly of the shaft, abrake housing carried by the drum, rotatabletherewith and surrounding a portion of the shaft, a brake mechanism inthe housing, and connections between the handle and the brake mechanism,said mechanism comprising a member fixed to the shaft having acircumferentially continuous, radially inwardly facing, stationarybraking surface, a shoe Xed with respect to and rotatable with thecasing and positioned for free sliding movement in both directionsrelative to said surface, and a pair of shiftable shoes connected toreceive rotational force from the fixed shoe and having oppositelyacting, one-way jamming connections with said surface under theinfluence of such force to restrain rochordal bottom and in that therollers are distation of the drum and casing in both directions saidconnection between the handle and the brake mechanism comprising meansextending from the handle through the casing with capability of lostmotion with respect thereto,'oper atively connected to the shiftableshoes for shifting each to the inoperative, non-jamming position uponthe application of turning force to the handle in the direction of drumrotation normally restrained by that shoe.

RICHARD P. SCHOLFIELD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS France July 6, 1907

